BMW is going limited edition crazy on the new 8 Series Coupe. Barely a month after introducing a one-off 8 Series Coupe that had pieces of actual meteorite on it, the German automaker is rolling the M850i xDrive Coupe First Edition. Limited to just 400 units worldwide, the M850i xDrive Coupe First Edition is the first of what is expected to be a long line of special edition 8 Series models that we can expect in the coming years. Exclusive touches to the exterior and interior are the main selling points of the M850i xDrive Coupe First Edition. That includes the all-too-important individually numbered badge in the cabin. Production of the special edition 8 Series starts between April and June 2019 at the automaker’s facility in Dingolfing, Germany. Market allocation of the 400 units, specifically those earmarked for the U.S. market, is yet to be determined.

What Makes the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe First Edition Special

BMW’s decision to unveil the M850i xDrive Coupe Night Sky Edition seems to have backfired on the German automaker. On the one hand, the one-off M850i xDrive was stunning for reasons that are out of this world, literally. On the other hand, it set the bar impossibly high for succeeding special edition models. How can other special edition 8 Series models live up or exceed the extravagance of actual pieces of meteorite embedded into the Night Sky Edition? Well, give credit to BMW for trying because we’re about to find out with the upcoming M850i xDrive First Edition.

There’s really no suspense in this, is there? At this point, it’s safe to assume that the Night Sky Edition belongs in a class of its own. There’s no competing against pieces of meteorite, unless the First Edition has rocks from Mars in it, which it doesn’t. But if you can temper your expectations to appropriate levels, then you’ll see that the M850i xDrive brings a lot of fancy digs to the table, all of which come from this fine world of ours.

Let’s start with the obvious place to start: the paint color. Bimmer, with the help of BMW Individual, gets the ball rolling quickly by dressing up the M850i xDrive First Edition with a brand new paint scheme, called Frozen Barcelona Blue Metallic. It’s basically a soft shade of blue that’s very pleasing to the eyes. It actually looks incredible on the M850i xDrive to the point that any other shade looks like a disappoint. I love it. Off to a fantastic start, BMW!

You come to expect a certain standard with BMW when it comes to wheel designs, and you get that in this set. But what really sets it apart is it’s Jet Black finish, which complements the exclusive Frozen Barcelona Blue Metallic exterior paint naturally. I’m trying to imagine the wheels finished in silver, and it’s not as visually stimulating as this Jet Black set. This color combination makes the M850i xDrive look even more stunning than it already is. Obviously, it’s not just the paint and the wheels that make up this exterior masterpiece. BMW Individual’s High Gloss Shadow Line package also contributes in the overall design makeup. The 8er’s kidney grille, side window surrounds, and exhaust finishers are all finished in dark accents. At the very least, BMW isn’t straying from the aesthetic formula that makes this special edition 8 Series Coupe look the way it does.

I’d leave the exterior the way it is because it’s already incredible to look at, but if you want to add a little extra to the mix, you can opt for Bimmer’s M-branded Carbon Fiber Package or even just a carbon roof from BMW M’s enormous catalog of add-ons. That’s your prerogative, but I’d advise against it. You’ll end up saving some money, and you keep the visual integrity of the M850i xDrive First Edition intact.

That said, I wouldn’t be opposed to adding some carbon fiber in the interior of the special edition 8 Series Coupe. You’re obviously not getting the meteorite fragments so why not get creative, right? You can use the carbon fiber application in different ways to complement the exclusive touches that BMW Individual already did to the cabin. The coupe’s steering wheel also gets in on the upgrades with its own M-sourced leather cover. There are black piano trim accents throughout the cabin to give it another visual layer. And of course, no special edition BMW — at least those that are numbered to a specific production volume — is complete without an individually numbered badge denoting the model’s specific production number and exclusive status. In this case, you’ll see the badge located right smack in the middle of the center tunnel, right below the center console and just in front of the gear shift panel. I like the stylized font BMW used on the badge, too. It’s eye-catching in a way that doesn’t scream for attention.

I’ll say this much: absent of the meteorite fragments and the LEDs in the center armrest; I actually like the interior of the M850i xDrive First Edition compared to the M850i xDrive Night Sky Edition. Yes, I said it! This cabin has a more relaxed feel to it, that, dare I say, stands out naturally. Don’t get me wrong; I love the meteorite gimmick in the Night Sky Edition, but as far as gimmicks go, there’s a shelf to a lot of them. And those LEDs could flicker at some point in the future, too.

At this point, I should add that the M850i xDrive Coupe First Edition also comes with a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System, glass applications on the iDrive controller, volume knob, start/stop button, and the illuminated gearshift lever. This cabin has an abundance of riches without anything feeling like an unnecessary addition. As a consumer, that’s all you can ask for, and BMW delivered.

About the only downside to the M850i xDrive Coupe First Edition is the absence of any engine upgrades. If you think about it, though, is it really a downside? After all, you’re already getting a car that’s powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine that produces 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. It’s not like the First Edition is starved for power, right? With that much horses under the hood, the coupé can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in a blistering 3.7 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to just 155 mph, but you’re not trying to set any speed records with this special edition 8er, anyway. You want to roll around town in class as passersby gawk over your ride. The 850i xDrive First Edition accomplishes that without trying to break any cylinder heads.

I’ll be the first to admit that I had reservations about the M850i xDrive when BMW announced it. I thought it was the start of an endless run of special edition 8 Series models that wouldn’t be able to live up to the one-off Night Sky Edition. But I was wrong. The M850i xDrive may not boast of any extraterrestrial features, but it sure is incredible to look at.

Trust me on this one: when it becomes available, buy it. It’s arguably the most beautiful “first edition” model I’ve seen in a long time.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2019 BMW 8 Series.

Read our full review on the 2018 BMW M850i xDrive Coupe Night Sky Edition.

Read our full review on the 2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible.

Read our full review on the original 1998-1999 BMW 8 Series.

Read our full review on the BMW 8 Series Concept Coupe.